Cap review: Projects & Ops, pricing and who it's for
Open-source Loom alternative for founders and small teams who want cheap, shareable screen recordings, with self-host or own-storage options. Free for personal use; Pro is $12 a user a month, or $8.16 billed annually.
Cap is an open-source screen recorder for Mac, Windows and Linux that turns a recording into a share link. Free covers personal use. A Desktop License adds commercial rights for $29 a year or $58 once. Cap Pro adds unlimited cloud sharing, AI summaries and transcripts, custom domains and team workspaces.
Free plan; paid from $8.16 per user/month billed annually ($12 monthly)
Workstak perk
20% off for 12 months
New users
Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects our verdicts.
Reviewed · Facts checked · Projects & Ops · Platforms: macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows, Linux (Debian package)
Good fit if
- Founders and small teams who want a low-cost, open-source Loom alternative with share links, AI transcripts and the option to self-host or use their own storage.
Skip if
- you need polished, presentation-style recordings or live video calls. Look at Tella for presentations.
Use cases
Move your team's Loom library over to Cap
Cap ProTeams leaving Loom who don't want to lose old videos. 1) In the Cap dashboard, go to Import > Loom. 2) Paste a single Loom URL, or upload a CSV of up to 500 videos. 3) Share the new Cap links with your team; transcripts and summaries come with Pro.
Sources: cap.so/docs/migrating-to-cap, cap.so/pricing
Send a quick screen walkthrough as a link instead of a meeting
Free for personal use (25 links a month, up to 5 min); Cap Pro for workFounders and engineers explaining a bug, PR or design. 1) Open Cap and choose Instant Mode. 2) Pick a screen or window, turn on camera and mic, and record. 3) Stop; the share link is copied to your clipboard, ready to paste.
Keep recordings on your own servers
Free to self-host (open source)Teams with data-residency or security rules. 1) Deploy Cap Web with Docker Compose. 2) Connect an S3-compatible bucket and set its credentials and CORS. 3) Point the desktop app at your server so share links use your domain.
Source: cap.so/docs/self-hosting
Watch-outs
The free plan is for personal use only. Any work use needs a Desktop License or Cap Pro.
Source: cap.so/pricing · checked
Free and Desktop License cap cloud share links at 25 a month, up to 5 minutes each. Unlimited sharing needs Cap Pro.
Source: cap.so/pricing · checked
SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 and HIPAA are listed for Cap Pro only, and SAML SSO is a $199 a month add-on.
Source: cap.so/pricing · checked
At a glance
Price
Free plan; paid from $8.16 per user/month billed annually ($12 monthly)
Source: cap.so/pricing · checked
Free plan
Yes · Personal use only; 25 share links a month, up to 5 min each
Source: cap.so/pricing · checked
Platforms
macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows, Linux (Debian package)
Source: cap.so · checked
Key integrations
Sources: cap.so/agents, cap.so/docs/agents/setup, cap.so/docs/agents/connectors · checked
Pricing
Workstak perk applies to Cap Pro. See the deal
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | What's included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | MonthlyFree | Annual— | What's includedPersonal use only. Studio Mode editor, 4K/60fps export, 25 share links a month up to 5 min. |
| Desktop Licenseper license/year | Monthly— | Annual$29/yr | What's includedCommercial rights and unlimited local recording for one user. Or $58 once for a lifetime licence. |
| Cap Proper user/month | Monthly$12 | Annual$8.16 | What's includedUnlimited cloud sharing, AI titles, summaries and transcripts, custom domain, analytics, own S3 or Google Drive. |
| Enterprise add-onsper month, flat | Monthly$199 | Annual— | What's includedCap Pro price plus SAML SSO at $199/mo flat; signed BAA $99/mo per organisation. Self-serve. |
Pricing checked on · Cap pricing page
Trust & security
SOC 2 Type II · Type II; listed as a Cap Pro feature
Source: cap.so/pricing · checked
ISO 27001 certified · Listed as a Cap Pro feature
Source: cap.so/pricing · checked
AI & integrations
Official MCP server · Local cap mcp serve plus read-only hosted connector
Server URL:
https://cap.so/docs/agents/setupSources: cap.so/agents, cap.so/docs/agents/setup, cap.so/docs/agents/connectors · checked
Public API · Developer API, OpenAPI 3.1 · API docs
Source: cap.so · checked
Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects our verdicts.
FAQs
How much does Cap cost?
Free for personal use. Desktop License is $29 per licence per year, or $58 once. Cap Pro is $12 per user a month, or $8.16 a month billed annually.
Source: cap.so/pricing
Can I use Cap's free plan for work?
No. Cap says the free version is for personal use only; any paid plan includes commercial usage rights.
Source: cap.so/pricing
What is the difference between Desktop License and Cap Pro?
Desktop License gives one user commercial rights and unlimited local recording. Cap Pro adds unlimited cloud sharing, AI titles, summaries and transcripts, custom domains, analytics and team workspaces.
Source: cap.so/pricing
Is Cap open source and can I self-host it?
Yes. The source is on GitHub, and Cap offers a self-hosted option. Cap Pro can also store recordings in your own S3 bucket or Google Drive.
Sources: github.com/CapSoftware/Cap, cap.so/pricing
Is Cap SOC 2 and ISO 27001 compliant?
Cap's pricing page lists SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 and HIPAA compliance for Cap Pro, with signed BAAs available at $99 a month.
Source: cap.so/pricing
Does Cap have an MCP server?
Yes. The Cap CLI runs a local MCP server with cap mcp serve, and a read-only hosted connector is at https://cap.so/api/mcp.
Sources: cap.so/docs/agents/setup, cap.so/docs/agents/connectors
Can I move my videos from Loom to Cap?
Yes. Cap Pro includes a Loom video importer for single links or a CSV of links.
Sources: cap.so/pricing, cap.so
What happens to my recordings if I cancel Cap Pro?
Cap says existing shares stay active and you can export everything. You can drop to the free plan or self-host.
Source: cap.so/pricing
Ready to try Cap?
Open-source Loom alternative for founders and small teams who want cheap, shareable screen recordings, with self-host or own-storage options. Free for personal use; Pro is $12 a user a month, or $8.16 billed annually.
Workstak perk: 20% off for 12 months
Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects our verdicts.
Alternatives to Cap
Loom: Loom is the established async video tool. Cap is open source, cheaper and can store recordings in your own S3 or Google Drive.
Tella: Tella focuses on polished, presentation-style recordings. Cap is cheaper and built for quick share links.
CleanShot: CleanShot X is a Mac screenshot and capture tool. Cap adds cloud sharing, transcripts and team workspaces across Mac, Windows and Linux.
Other Projects & Ops tools
BasecampFlat-price projects and client communication for a small team that hates tool sprawl. Opinionated by design; pick ClickUp if you want to configure everything.
Cal.comScheduling with booking pages, round-robin and routing forms. Free for individuals, scales to teams.
CalendlyThe booking link everyone already knows, with almost no setup. The free plan is one event type only; pick Cal.com if you want open source or more free event types.
Something wrong or out of date?
Private — not published. Every report is read.